Xerophyte

Leaves

The leaves on all Pterocactus are small and fall away early.

Central Spines

1 to 2 upward, 2 (or more) cm long, whitish to brown or black and more or less flattened and papery, present only at the growing tips.

Seeds

Winged, seeds typical of the genus.

Description

It is a dwarf shrub with a large napiform root that forms short chains of segment one over each other

Note

The spines in the new shoot of P. australis have the tendency to point upwards while those of Pterocactus fischeri usually point downwards.

Flowers

Diurnal, solitary, perianth funnel-shaped, 2-3 cm in diameter, tepals brownish- yellow with a pink hue and a silky sheen, the color of the stigma is variable. The flower originate embedded at the end of a segment tip and the floral tube is indistinguishable from the stem itsef.Often the old flower bud does not distinguish from a sterile shoot in the upper part.

Blooming Season

Spring to summer.

Stem

Spherical or pear-shaped segments. Greenish-brown to purple up to 8 cm long and 1 to 1,5 cm in diameter. The articles detache easily (and take root propagating the plant all around)

Radial Spines

10-15 white 3 to 4 mm long.

Fruits

Dry, dehiscing transversely near the top. Covered with areoles, which fall off at maturity.

Areoles

With few glochids.